If mamma went out to work in the kitchen, there would be a scampering from under her feet; and the kittens would be right before her. If she went to the closet to get any thing, she was sure to knock one of the kits over as she came out. When she was making pies, something would come up her dress; and, before she could stop it, there would be a kitten on her shoulder ready to fall into the pie. One day, after mamma had stepped on kittens, and fallen over kittens, till her patience was all gone, she said she believed she must have the kittens drowned, they were so much in the way. Pussy Gray, their mother, was in the room, and heard what was said. She at once went out of the door, calling the kittens after her. That night they didn't come back, nor the next day, nor the next; and, now that they were really gone, mamma began to feel badly. So she searched all through the garden, calling "Kitty, kitty;" but though she looked down the cellar-stairs, and under the back-doorsteps, and everywhere she could think of, no kitten came. MATTIE. [Illustration] A FUNNY LITTLE GRANDMA. CRADLED on a rose-leaf By her mother-miller, In her tiny egg slept Baby caterpillar, Till the sunbeams coaxed her From her cradle cosey, To her pretty chamber, Velvet soft and rosy. Dew and honey drinking As from fairy chalice, A merry life she led In that rosy palace. Till at length she wove a Bed of cotton-down, Where she slept to waken, Dressed in satin brown. Once more in the sunshine, Oh! how sweet to roam, And on satin pinions Seek her flowery home! She had joined the noble Family of millers, And last I heard was grandmamma To six small caterpillars. CLARA BROUGHTON. [Illustration] A MORNING RIDE. MAUD is spending her vacation among the woods and mountains of Maine, where she went with her father and mother about two weeks ago. One very pleasant morning papa said, "I think we had better take a ride this morning." So Maud was called in to get ready; and Hannah, the good white horse, was harnessed into the buggy. The buggy had but one seat: so mamma found a nice box, and folded her shawl and put on it; and that made a good place for the little girl, between her father and mother; and they all started on their ride. They went along a shady road near the river, and soon they saw some geese. Several of them were swimming in the water, and one or two were on the bank. One of these had a sort of frame around its neck, and was standing on one leg.